The Critical Access Hospital Specialists

Our company has been in the CAH industry for many years; we introduced the first and second Critical Access Hospital facilities to Mississippi. In those early years, we took our share of lumps and bruises on the way to learning how to build and maintain a successful CAH facility. Today, Pioneer Health Services owns, operates and manages several CAH facilities in the Southeast and provides contract business office services to other CAH facilities across the nation. Like many of the hospitals we serve, the company is headquartered in a rural community, Magee, Mississippi. Pioneer currently has over 800 employees and is a privately held company. Unlike other companies, our focus is strictly on the CAH industry. We believe in the CAH business model, and have used it to successfully reach our corporate mission to provide superior and compassionate healthcare services to rural communities. In order to reach that goal we built a specialized approach to maximize the cash flow within the CAH business model. While our business is the care of a community, we realize that patient care would not exist for long without steady cash flow and sound business strategies.

CAH - one tough business model

While having the CAH designation is a wonderful tool to help ensure the delivery of healthcare to the rural market, it is not, however, an easy business model to follow. The rules and regulations make it quite tough to navigate. For instance, imagine if you told any other business that a large portion of their products would be sold at cost plus 1%. With a profit margin like that, they would likely tell you the business could never be successful. But it can be successful -- if your facility maintains an effective business office, a seamless revenue cycle, steady cash-flow, and reinvests in the business with service lines having higher returns.

Revenue Cycle - running like a well oiled machine

Cash flow is vital to any business. However, in the CAH business model, an effective and reliable revenue cycle is the crucial element in being able to provide advanced healthcare to the community. Pioneer takes a comprehensive approach to maximizing the revenue cycle of a Critical Access Hospital. No matter the gross annual revenue of a CAH, every facility can benefit from the streamlined revenue cycle Pioneer Health Services provides.

The Benefits of Pioneer Health Services RCM

Our programs are completely customized to your hospital, and our Revenue Cycle Management services can be contracted as a complete program or as specialized service to target and improve key elements of your revenue cycle process. To help make a better determination of how Pioneer can best help your hospital, we begin with a full evaluation of your entire revenue cycle process, from admissions through the cost reporting.

 

Evaluating your RCM process

The following are some of the highlights of our evaluation process. This process points out the weaknesses and strengths within your revenue cycle process.

Do you have a well-trained and motivated billing staff?
People are the key to success. Even the greatest software and most well thought-out procedures are useless without effective, well-trained personnel running the show. Is your financial services team in tune with their role in the big picture?

Is there effective communication throughout all departments?
Lack of communication between departments results in fragmented information and ultimately slows or stops the reimbursement process. Are your departments communicating?

Are there effective information gathering methods?
Gather information should be effortless. The collection process starts with accurate collection all pertinent inforamtion. with their role in the big picture?f just one element is missing the entire process may be stalled. Hardware, software, and people have to all work seamlessly to be effective. How's your information, do you trust it?

What are you're Point of Service procedures?
The revenue cycle process starts the ball rolling at the Point of Service. Focusing on front-end processes to include collecting co-pays and deductibles will result in increased collections. SO are your POS procedures incresasing the odds of payment?

Can you boost the Cash Flow process?
Cash Flow is the lifeblood of your facility. The stream of cash must remain constant or there will be trouble down the road. Is your cash flow process running at top speed or just squeaking by?

Do you measure your Key Performance Indicators?
When your Days in A/R turns into Months in A/R there are some major problems to be addressed. Slow collections and bad debt can destroy a Critical Access Hospital. Is your hospital grinding or gliding?

 

Call in the experts.

As healthcare providers for rural communities, our hospitals are an integral element of the community in two capacities. First, the healthcare we provide is vital to the health and wellbeing of residents of the community. Secondly, the jobs that the hospital creates are critical to the health of local economy. Make the most of your CAH for the sake of the community you serve. Our revenue cycle management programs are developed, tested and proven in the Critical Access Hospital business model. If poor cash flow is having a negative effect on your hospital's ability to provide superior patient care, call Pioneer Health Services.

 

Call us for information regarding a complimentary assessment.